Wasting Suffering

Our pastorate (home group) is studying Romans, well more appropriately looking at the mountain peaks of Romans. I felt a bit sulky about this as I love doing things thoroughly, especially things like studying Romans. I guess I will just have to recruit a few friends to do it with me.

I hate abridged books, and so I dislike this high points of Romans approach. However, our last meeting this week was amazing because we lingered on a few sentences in an otherwise rich and rhapsodic chapter–a crescendo which we would otherwise not have devoted enough time to.

And here is the crescendo. Romans 8:35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”j]”>[j]37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,k]”>[k]neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I found that really moving–that the very worst life can throw at us–trouble or hardship or persecution or danger or death or demons, the past or the future–nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing can separate us from the dance we dance with him, while he breathes his spirit into us.

Will Donaldson, Director of Christian Leadership at Wycliffe who belongs to our pastorate, spoke about suffering being within the providential purposes of God. * * *

And suddenly, I thought about an injustice I had experienced nearly three years ago which I had allowed to turn into bitterness within me. I had had trouble forgiving. This unforgiveness and bitterness blocked the flow of creativity within me until, with a herculean effort which took a while, I released the people involved and forgave them.

And now I am back. The injustice was an injustice, and I shake my head wryly when I remember it. But am no longer angry. Without understanding what went on, I am able to cancel the debt, so to say, and to move on.

But alas, over the 2+ years I took to get to this point, I guess I wasted suffering. I stewed, fumed, asked God to vindicate me against my adversaries, wanted God to see justice done (of course, I still do, but I am willing to wait for his timing), got bitter. What a waste!

If I had accepted it as what God providentially allowed to happen to me, and tried to see his purposes and sovereign overruling in it, what sweetness of character it could have brought forth!

Suffering is part of God’s providential purposes. It has a purpose–developing character and perseverance, and hope. And hope does not disappoint us, as Paul says in this splendid image, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything James 1

Wec also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3 * * *

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